ACCCIM Never Neglected Role In Protecting SMEs' Interest In Minimum Wage Issue

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) today clarified that it has never neglected its role in protecting the interest of various industries, particularly the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the minimum wage issue.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v6/newsbusiness.php?id=926320
Published: February 07, 2013

"ACCCIM leaders including Tan Sri William Cheng and Datuk Lim Kok Cheong, as well as Secretary-General Datuk Low Kian Chuan have been monitoring closely on the progress of minimum wage since 2007," it said in a statement.

ACCCIM issued this clarification in response to a recent allegation by some guilds and associations that it had not done enough to protect the SMEs which are facing tremendous hardship as the result of the implementation of minimum wage scheme.

The association said it had, in writing, opposed the implementation of minimum wage when the Ministry of Human Resource (MOHR) first proposed the uniform minimum wage for the whole country in 2007.

Its representatives together with other private sector organisations had also raised objection in 2010 to have a uniform minimum wage and insisted that the quantum of minimum wage should be reasonable.

"ACCCIM issued a press release on March 6, 2012 in response to the MOHR's statement that only two per cent of additional cost would be incurred after implementation of minimum wage.

"A joint statement was issued after the colloqium on July 24, 2012, organised by the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers by 31 participating organisations including ACCCIM, to express the views and proposals of the private sector urging the government to give due consideration," ACCCIM said.

As the government refused to postpone the implementation of the minimum wage policy, ACCCIM submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister on Nov 27, 2012, it said.

The association re-submitted its proposal on Jan 16, 2013 during a dialogue with the Prime Minister and requested the government to review this issue seriously.

"This has led to the government's adjustment of foreign worker's levy policy recently," ACCCIM said.

-- BERNAMA